Skateboards are symbols of free-spirited individuality, and skaters find a wide variety of uses for their boards. Boards with short decks are well suited for performing ollies, flip tricks and grinds. Longboards, on the other hand, are designed for stability. These boards may have wider decks and significantly wider wheel bases, allowing for pinpoint accuracy when making turns.

Longboards can provide a relaxing means to cruise around a neighborhood, carving down hills in the manner of a surfer. But these boards also have many properties that make them perfect for short-range transportation. Depending on the quality and cleanliness of the bearings, among other factors, longboards can reach relatively high speeds. They provide an alternative to commuting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and who wouldn’t want a little relief from that torture?